Hey guys!!! Did you miss me?!?! Well I sure as hell know I missed you! Today I bring back THE MANAGEMENT with an amazing, talented, funny, cool dude named Jayce Levi. Or all you Myspace kids might know him as Secret Secret Dino Club.

Jayce so willingly agreed to let me (virtually) sit down with him and ask him some questions about his music, life, and some other random stuff. Now, truthfully….I discovered Jayce’s music through his girlfriend Ashley. I do super duper enjoy Jayce’s music though. He’s a rad dude. I stupidly missed his performance at EMO NITE a few months ago, and I regret it everyday. But that’s life for you… Anyways, I’m sure you guys don’t want me to ramble on about what I think about Jayce! You probably came here to read his interview!

So here you go!! My interview with…

JAYCE LEVI aka SECRET SECRET DINO CLUB!

So to start off, why don’t you tell us a little about Secret Secret Dino Club and how you started doing music.

I started playing music when I was in the second grade. My first instrument that i really learned was the snare drum. I learned how to read music through books and I had a little handmade practice pad. I practiced non-stop. I carried drum sticks around school with me all day long and would practice in between classes on my binders while walking to my next class and sometimes even in class. Eventually I learned to play the drum set and other melodic percussion instruments like the marimba and the timpani.

After I started learning those instruments I couldn’t stop and I wanted to learn every instrument. I got a guitar and taught myself how to play it by looking at it. By the time i was in high school i was teaching lessons to younger kids (and sometimes older) on probably 5-10 different instruments.

I really wanted to be in a band but my school was very small. I played in some bands but it was never really the type of music I wanted to play because there were 2 kids in my entire school who knew how to play guitar so I just had to play the kind of music they liked. I started going to lots of concerts and finding people on myspace to play with and I joined a few different bands but it was always frustrating because no one seemed as committed as me. Eventually I got fed up and just started recording my own songs and getting better at singing. It took a long time I probably recorded 100 bad songs before I started making ones people thought were good. When the songs got better I was also working hard at promoting on myspace and eventually I was getting offers to play concerts and go on tour.

I went on tour by myself in my car for a long time and eventually hard work payed off and I got to do some really awesome stuff with my music. I got to travel the world with my friends and be on TV and on the radio for the most part it was pretty awesome. I didn’t make a crazy amount of money or anything but I didn’t go into music to make money so it didn’t really matter. It also lead me to write music for other bands and artists which was a long term goal of mine.

What is your favorite thing about playing and writing music?

The world is my stage, but the stage is my world. There’s nothing like being able to get on stage and play my songs for people. I get more stressed now playing concerts because I run videos and more complicated things and I always fear the computer will explode on stage but it’s usually fine. Even better than being on stage though, I love recording music and hearing a song finally come together the way i hear it in my head.

What are your inspirations?

I am inspired by so many things. My girlfriend, Jazz music… The music I listened to growing up as pretty much all hip-hop. Also, things that aren’t music or people…like places I’ve been & movies I’ve watched. I’ve probably seen more movies than anyone I know.

What is a typical song writing process like?

It’s definitely changed over the years. I used to write songs on my guitar and practice them a ton until I thought they were good enough to record. Now I don’t really write anything without recording it at the same time. Most of the songs I’ve done in the last probably 5 years I haven’t written down, and a lot of the vocals I end up keeping in the recordings are from the first time i ever really sang something out loud.

If you could collaborate with anyone, Dead or Alive, who would it be?

I guess probably just my some of my favorite musicians. Thelonious Monk, Brian Wilson, Young Dolph, The Smoking Popes, and Weezer.

What is one thing you want to accomplish as a musician?

I’ve never truly had a hit song and I would like that. I saw that Travi$ Scott played his hit song 14 times in a row in a concert. I wanna to play a song of mine 15 times in a row.

And just for fun…..If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

Probably teleportation. Being a musician most of my friends are musicians and I never get to see them because they are always on the road or they live far away and in other countries. It would be nice to see them more often and also get to see my family whenever i want.

So…if you haven’t already looked up Secret Secret Dino Club on Spotify, and are rocking out to Jayce’s music….You’re doing it wrong!! His music will throw you back into that lovely Myspace era I know we all love and adore and think about with so much nostalgia.

They also have some really cool style! I mean, how often is it that you find a guy that is both talented and stylish?! Let alone TWO!? These dudes are truly awesome!

I had the pleasure of being able to interview them for your reading pleasure!

So here you go!

Here is my interview with Nick Jordan & Hundo of

FRIENDS OF THE FRIENDLESS!

All photo credits to: @b.xay

Hello! First, why don’t you introduce yourselves & tell us what you do!

Hi!! We are Nick Jordan and Hundo and we are friends of the friendless. We recently crash landed into the depths of the hood of LA after a quick multi dimensional joy ride through space and time. We’re now on a mission to find all of the like minded people of Earth to combine forces with and become unstoppable.

Hundo: Mine has to be “Ain’t it funny” because of the inspiration behind the song. To make a long story short, let’s just say someone was being fake behind my back and smiling to my face.

How would you describe your personal clothing style?

Nick: Probably just fly as fuck.

Hundo: Shout out to NTRL RBLS

Who are your main musical influences?

Nick: Outkast, Blink 182 and Aretha Franklin

Hundo: a solid tie between Tupac and Andre 3000. I’m like both of them really…Andre is weird in the best way. Pac was revolutionary and down for his cause.

How did you both get started doing music?

Nick: I started playing drums in my school band when I was 12, it was the first thing that ever started me doing it all. I’ve been in bands since I was 14 and haven’t known anything else.

Hundo: I grew up beating on doors and pots and pans and of course watching my mom beat box. It was natural to me from day 1.

What is one thing you want to accomplish as an artist?

FOTF: Take over the world and make the world a better place for us aliens.

Who inspires you to keep performing?

Nick: It’s just my favorite thing to do so I have to say myself. It’s what I like to do the most out of everything…ever. I don’t care if anyone else was still doing it, I would always perform no matter what, it inspires me.

How I am able to find all these sick people to share with you guys…I have no idea!

MEET SLOW CAVES!

A radical band that has some even more radical music!!

Their music is alternative with some hints of electric pop behind it! I am not the best at describing music…butttt…..they will do a better job at that in their interview!

Anyways! I found these guys on Instagram of all the places! I believe they followed me??! Who knows! All that matters is I found them and fell in love!

I can totally see them playing at FYF one year!

Their music is SO much fun. The type of rock/alt music that makes you want to get up and dance!

Are you guys curious yet?!

Well I hope you are!

Here is my interview with SLOWCAVES!

What type of music do you guys play?

We play a mix of Indie-Garage-Rock that we have termed Synth-Punk. When we writes songs, we try to create a sound that mixes elements of Grouplove, Nirvana, and the Strokes. We like to write music that is fast paced and fun to play live.

When did you guys become a band?

Slow Caves started around January of 2014, I think we played our first show around March 2014.

Who had the original idea to create it?

All of us have known each other since we were in elementary school, and have all played together in different bands at some point in our lives. We wanted to start fresh with a new project and lineup and when Oliver moved back to Colorado from LA, the timing was perfect to form Slow Caves.

Why the name the Slow Caves?

When we were first starting the band, we were group-texting each other every day trying to come up with band names. Originally, we came up with DRM TLK (Dream Talk) and were really stoked on that name. But we realized that wasn’t a good fit for the type of music we wanted to write. I think Dave originally sent a text with the name, Slow Caves, and it just sounded right to us. Over time it’s developed it’s own meaning of the sound of your mind slowly caving in on you, using caves as a verb instead of a noun.

Who are your main musical influences?

We all have a pretty wide variety of influences but I think we can all say that The Strokes, Nirvana, Skaters and Wavves have all had a big impact on the way we play music.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

That’s not a hard choice, Julian Casablancas for sure.

What’s next for you guys?

Right now we are just trying to write more and more songs so we can get into the studio and release some new material. It’s been over a year since our first EP was released, and our style has changed quite a bit. We will still be playing a ton of shows though in the mean time, along with trying to pet as many dogs as we can find.

JAKOB MUELLER

What is your position in Slow Caves?

I sing and play guitar.

How would you describe your personal music style?

I’m into the dreamy kind of guitar playing and big guitar SO-LOWs. I like to add an ambient layer underneath everything. Texture is everything. So maybe Johnny Marr meets John Frusciante?

What is your favorite song currently?

What by Broncho

Who inspires you?

Mozart. His music hits me so hard. I especially love listening to his early music and comparing it to his later music. He was brilliant when we was young of course, but man he just kept on getting better. One of the things that I love most about his music, is his use of space and simplicity. Then, at other times, things get so heavy!

Where do you want to take your music career?

I want to always be improving/learning, making friends, and having a good time

OLIVER MUELLER

What is your position in Slow Caves?

I sing, I play guitar, I play bass, and I record for Slow Caves

How would you describe your personal music style?

I’m constantly trying to find a balance between subtlety and obviousness. Sweet guitar/bass parts that service the song, and don’t distract the listener.

What is your favorite song currently?

Eye Dozer by Spirit Club

Who inspires you?

Julian Casablancas inspires me more than any single person has. He basically made indie rock cool again, like, 7 times. His work with The Strokes alone is enough to evoke recognition from any music listener. And, his ventures into solo territory have proven dark, scary, beautiful, and chaotic. Not to mention his label, cult records, which has served as a platform for some of my favorite bands (The Virgins, Reputante).

Where do you want to take your music career?

I want to get to a level where I can realistically propose a collaboration with Julian Casablancas. I want to play big music festivals and play Foosball tournaments against Mini Mansions

DAVID DUGAN

What is your position in Slow Caves?

I play guitar and bass, and do all the booking, emailing amd what not

How would you describe your personal music style?

Energetic, I try to jump around and have as much fun as possible when I’m playing.

What is your favorite song currently?

Follow by DIIV

Who inspires you?

Christian Zucconi, watching him live makes you want to perform on another level. The first time I saw Grouplove I was instantly in love with how much passion and energy they bring to the performance. Also Deven Ivy of Residual Kid. That dude throws down harder than anyone.

Where do you want to take your music career?

I just want to keep having fun playing music with my best friends.

JACKSON LAMPERES

What is your position in Slow Caves?

I play the drums!

How would you describe your personal music style?

I am my own person. I have very simple style while still trying to look fly for a white guy.

What is your favorite song currently?

Its a tie between every single Mac Demarco song

Who inspires you?

Dan Aid and Wiredogs, Jakob and Oliver Mueller, David Dugan, Dave Grohl, Jojo Mayer, John Bonham and many more!

Where do you want to take your music career?

I want to grow as a musician and master other instruments besides the drums. Ultimately, I want to make an honest living doing what I love.